Code: DOB NOW (Main DOB online system and public search portal)
Description: (DOB NOW Online DOB Filing and Public Portal) is the NYC Department of Buildings self‑service online system where owners, design professionals, licensees, and contractors do most official business with DOB, including filings, permits, inspections, and license activities. It has a main public search portal and four main work sections called DOB NOW: Build, DOB NOW: Safety, DOB NOW: Inspections, and DOB NOW: Licensing, and it is gradually replacing the older Building Information System (BIS) for many newer records.
Practical Meaning: For a NYC homeowner, DOB NOW is the main online system your architect, engineer, or contractor uses to submit plans, request permits, upload documents, schedule inspections, file safety reports, and manage license‑related work for your building. It also includes a public portal where you, as an owner or buyer, can search many of these filings, permits, violations, and license records, and then drill down into the specific sections for job filings (Build), safety filings (Safety), inspection scheduling (Inspections), and license applications (Licensing).
Where You May See It: You may see DOB NOW mentioned on DOB website links and help pages, on the DOB NOW: Public Portal search tools, in emails from your design professional or contractor, in DOB violation or permit instructions, and in lender or attorney checklists that ask you to confirm permits, inspections, and Letters of Completion in both DOB NOW and BIS.
Why It Matters: If your project is not properly filed, updated, or closed out in DOB NOW, you may not receive permits, inspections, or Letters of Completion on time, which can delay work, closings, or refinancing. DOB NOW shows recent and active filings in its Build, Safety, Inspections, and Licensing sections, while BIS still holds older history, so checking both systems gives a fuller picture of your building’s DOB record and helps you catch problems early, before they become larger enforcement or financing issues.
Source: More About DOB NOW Online Portal